alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />Tonight, Brad Richardson gets a chance to return to Honda Center, where it basically all started for him this season. Richardson had played 26 games before Dec. 1 but had not recorded a single point. Then, he had a second-period assist and scored the game-winning goal in the third period. That game started a remarkable rise for Richardson, who went from being a borderline fourth-line player to being, at one point, a first-line left winger.
Richardson will continue to skate with Wayne Simmonds, but they will flip centers and pick up Jarret Stoll. This morning, Terry Murray reflected on how far Richardson has come since early December.
MURRAY: “That’s when he started to show that he was the type of player he kept telling me he was. The confidence, the ability to check, be responsible and used in special teams, penalty killing in particular. And showing some skill level with the puck. He has played himself into the situation that he’s in right now. He was never in my doghouse. It’s just that I came in last year and we needed to change some things around, and everybody had to buy in, and he wasn’t able to get the job done. Clearly, this year he has become an important player.”
Also, Murray was asked about that Dec. 1 game in particular, and whether Richardson had needed some points in order to jump-start his season…
MURRAY: “Again, last year I asked the players to really buy into the checking side of the game. It didn’t matter to me, at that time, about goals, assists, points, per se. If you do the right stuff without the puck, you’re going to get your opportunities. As he moved through the early part of this season, you could see the skill level that was there, and that the confidence was starting to grow with playmaking and with the puck.
“Whenever you’re seeing that in a player, the hard work, that he really cared and he was buying in on the grit and the checking side of the game, then it’s important, I think, to show the confidence and let him continue to work his way through it. He started to chip in a goal here and there and basically started to take off.”
Richardson had nowhere to go but up after last season. I’m glad he has gotten a chance to play in all these situations and prove himself worthy of getting chances Murray gives him. I hope he can continue his hard work.
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Don’t you think having him inserted in with scores had something to do with it. I can’t remember if the goal was in the middle of a line change or he was inserted on Brown’s line, but I do remember Brown was on the ice.
It is difficult to score with Ivanans and Harold on your line. Not to rip either, but scoring even assisting at this point is not a big part of their skill set. Keep it up Brad you have your shot with scorers continue to take advantage of it.
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Easier? Sure Luc20, but you still need to put the work in, in order to get those assists, and that is what Murray is talking about.
He didn’t care about the points, he cared about what those players were doing away from the puck, when the ability to get an assist or a goal wasn’t going to happen, along the boards, in the defensive zone, and in the neutral zone. Those were the things Richardson wasn’t doing last year, and is doing quite well this year (amongst others).
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Kings traded a second rounder, to the Avs, for this guy, he should be producing. A second round pick got the Sharks a serviceable defensemen. Good for him, and the Kings, and Kings fans, that Richardson finally got his head around what Murray wanted done. He’s been excellent on the PK all year, and his hustle is as admirable as it is effective.
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Hopefully Teddy Purcell is somewhere taking a break and reading this..;)
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luc20,
Yeah I think inserting with better teammates helped, but look at Purcell … being put on better lines clearly hasn’t helped him. So, you still have to give Richardson a huge amount of credit.
In my mind Brown is another example of being put on the first line, but not really improving on his level of play. No, I’m not comparing Brown’s skill level to Purcell’s. Brown has a high skill level, but it doesn’t seem to go up with going on the first line.
The players I’ve noticed improve with going to the better lines is Richardson and Simmons.
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Richardson is clearly our Most Valuable Player.
Dean Lombardi needs to give him a lifetime contract.
14 years, 7 million per
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Young guys need playing time to prove themselves. Richie’s time last year was wasted on Calder.
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If Richie spends next season averaging as many points as he has this year since he started scoring (so minus the first 26 games), he’ll end up with over 50 points! Not bad if he can actually keep it up!
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I’m thankful for Richardson. His persistence, grit, hard work ethic, team mentality and now his skill and presence. The other team has to really pay attention to him now and that’s helpful since it may free up more space and opportunity for the other guys. Great job Richardson keep it going!!!
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Crosstown traffic = richardson’s mom?
I totally love Ritchie too but he’s not $7 million a year love
definitely better than the average second rounder, the guy is a major discovery.
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“Crosstown :: Richardson is clearly our Most Valuable Player.
Dean Lombardi needs to give him a lifetime contract.
14 years, 7 million per”
OK Brad, suuuure….
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I thought Richardson was terrible. I now think he’s awesome. This guy has really stepped up.
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I too think that Richardson has greatly improved over last year.
He’s another piece of the puzzle that makes the Kings the Kings!
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This guy is so consistent its unreal. But his real value is the timely flashes of offensive skill and his knack for jumping up and making something pop just when it seems nothing is happening.
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And about nowhere but up after last year, don’t forget LaBarbara was perhaps the worst starting goalie in the history of the franchise.
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real 7 zus is mvp with the grit he brings every night
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Everybody looks better because the system is working, and they all perform according to the system. Murray is building a team that will not have to “change gears” system-wise in the playoffs. The Kings will, however, have to up the intesity level and get used to a higher tempo. Same system, same timings on breakout, but more players coming at them harder on the forecheck. Richardson’s game fits Murray’s system perfectly-strong two way play, enough speed to warrant respect, enough size to be capable defensively, a good enough shot to draw d-men but an ability to pass, also. Ricghardson, as with the system, and with most of the other players, is all about balance among diverse skills. Everybody does everything better than average, and most of them have their own particular skill that is top-notch.
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zus is a god in front of the net
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